This has been a year of seismic shifting for the whole world. It’s left all of us feeling a bit out of breath and a bit cracked. It’s left us reeling at the sudden shifts in culture and the big problems those shifts have seemingly caused.

Here’s the thing….all of this is part of God’s plan and if we can accept it, it is happening for our blessing. Not that it is all a blessing but…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Sometimes I doubt that verse…DO YOU EVER DOUBT THE PROMISES OF SCRIPTURE?

Well when I find myself in doubt I have learned a few habits that help me regain my equilibrium. HERE ARE FOUR:

1. I PULL MYSELF BACK, AND TAKE A BREAK UNTIL I CAN LOOK DOWN ON THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN LIVING IN THE PROBLEM.

2. I REALIZE WHILE THE WORLD MOVES FAST I DON’T HAVE TOO. I SLOW DOWN AND TAKE THE TIME I NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS I NEED TO MAKE.

3. I REALIZE THAT SMALL SUCCESSFUL STEPS ARE BETTER THAN BIG MISSTEPS. SO I FIND A SMALL STEP I CAN TAKE.

4. PART OF MY PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS IS TO REALIZE THAT SOME PROBLEMS ARE NOT MINE TO SOLVE. SO I FIGURE OUT WHICH PARTS OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED BY MY GIFTS MIX AND WHICH PARTS I NEED TO ASK HELP FROM OUTSIDE.

There are other habits too, but for the sake of space we’ll stop here. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.